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Geroux Hoping To Ride Momentum From ‘Amazing’ Derby Week To Churchill Riding Title

It was a monumental Kentucky Derby week for jockey Florent Geroux whose seven victories, including four graded stakes wins, vaulted him to a tie atop the Churchill Downs jockey standings with Tyler Gaffalione as the 14-day meet resumed Thursday.

“This year has been rough for everyone in the world,” said Geroux, who notched five wins on Kentucky Oaks Day. “Just being here to have the Derby, even if it was in September, with no spectators, was amazing. Because at the beginning of the year, when everyone was staying at home, you thought that was pretty much impossible… it turned out to be an amazing week.”

Geroux's swift start to the September Meet included a 15-1 upset victory with Shedaresthedevil in the $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI). In the race prior, the $500,000 La Troienne presented by Oak Grove Racing and Gaming (GI), Geroux bested seven rivals aboard champion Monomoy Girl. His day was capped off with a rail-skimming rally aboard Diamond Oops in the $250,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint presented by Sysco (GII).

“It was an amazing day but, at the end of the day, I wasn't pleased knowing Mundaye Call got beat in the Eight Belles as the even-money favorite,” Geroux said.

In total, Geroux's mounts banked $1,843,419 in purse money during the supercharged Kentucky Derby Week of races. Geroux and Gaffalione held a three-win cushion over Ricardo Santana Jr. in the riding standings. September Meet's defending champion, Corey Lanerie, scored a trio of wins on Kentucky Derby week.

In the trainer standings, Brad Cox won six races with 13 starters and held a two-win margin over Mike Maker. Albaugh Family Stables, G. Watts Humphrey Jr. and Lothenbach Stables are tied in the owner's race with two wins each.

Thursday's nine-race card at Churchill Downs had a first post of 12:45 p.m.

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‘I Really Needed Somebody To Push Me’: Davis Credits New Agent For Recent Success

After going a month between starters, jockey Katie Davis is making up for lost time.

The 28-year-old fiancée of fellow rider Trevor McCarthy has registered seven wins with her last 15 mounts including a hat trick Sept. 12, the last live racing day at Laurel Park. She is named in three of 10 races when action resumes Thursday at Laurel, and two of nine races Friday.

A Maryland regular since late 2016, Davis rode three programs at Colonial Downs in neighboring Virginia before the meet was closed down Aug. 14 with a number of positive coronavirus results. One of them was McCarthy, and though she tested negative she joined her fiance in quarantine for two weeks.

With agent John DiNatale handling her book, Davis returned to action Sept. 3 and rode at least one winner each day that weekend including a two-win day Sept. 4. She has also finished third twice during her recent stretch.

“When I came back from the quarantine I was kind of lost and confused on what I wanted to do, because all the agents were pretty much taken. I really needed somebody to push me,” Davis said. “You can only do so much with yourself. I got very lucky. Trevor kind of put the word out for me a little more.

“Frank Saumell, the clerk of scales, said he had a longtime friend that had been in the business for 30-some years, 40 years. He used to be a trainer but he really wanted to get back in the game and become an agent,” she added. “That was probably the best thing that ever happened to me.”

DiNatale won 145 races and more than $1.5 million in purses in a training career with stops and starts between 1976 and 2009. One of his best horses was Stonewall Sue, who ran fifth in the 1994 Maryland Million Distaff and 1995 Shamrock Stakes at Laurel.

“A lot of people do know him, people that have been in the game a lot longer. Just picking him up really gave me that confidence that I needed,” Davis said. “Not that Trevor didn't give me confidence in that way, but the confidence in my own business to succeed and ride smart and keep going. That's what really lifted me up off my feet.

“Even the first week John and I were together he was like, 'Keep doing what you're doing, don't change a thing. You're riding smart and giving your horses every opportunity to win.' That alone shows that I can do this. I can perform well with the horses.”

Davis has 229 wins from 1,882 career starters and purse earnings of more than $6.1 million. She is one of six children that grew up around the sport while their father, Robbie, was winning 3,382 races between 1981 and 2002 primarily on the New York circuit. Older sister Jackie and younger brother Dylan are also professional jockeys, respectively based in Pennsylvania and New York.

In addition to her agent, Davis continues to lean on her father for his input. His mother, Davis' grandmother, passed away Sept. 1.

“Recently we've been talking a lot more. I really sat him down and said, 'C'mon, it's time to look at my races now. You've been looking at Dylan's for far too long,'” Davis laughed. “I sent him all my races, even if I finish last or got in a bad spot and ask him what he thinks I can do differently. He told me I was doing good and riding smart and my left hand was amazing. It's important to use both hands.”

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Irish Champion Jockey Pat Smullen, 43, Passes Away

Pat Smullen, Irish Champion Jockey nine times throughout his career, passed away on the evening of Sept.15 at St Vincent’s Hopsital in Dublin, Ireland. Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in March of 2018, he was 43.

Smullen began riding out as an apprentice for Tom Lacy, and made an immediate impact, being named champion apprentice both in 1995 and 1996. He also rode for Joanna Morgan and after serving his apprenticeship, Smullen rode for various other trainers, including John Oxx, and Tommy Stack before joining forces as first call rider for Irish maestro Dermot Weld in 1999. For Weld he would serve the rest of his 20-year career.

Among those two decades were the aforementioned nine riding titles, the most recent in 2016, after piloting Harzand (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) to a win in the G1 Epsom Derby. Smullen booted home 10 other Classic winners, including G1 Irish Oaks victress Covert Love (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}), G1 2000 Guineas hero Refuse to Bend (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) and quadruple G1 Irish St Leger winner Vinnie Roe (Ire) (Definite Article {GB}).

Smullen began penning a weekly column for the TDN shortly before he retired from the saddle in May of 2019 after doctors advised him against a return to race riding. He put those months to good use, however, subsequently raising over €2.5 million for Cancer Trials Ireland through various charity efforts. One of the highlights of his fundraising was the Pat Smullen Champions Race. He also was part of the advisory team at Eva Bucher-Haefner’s Moyglare Stud, for whom he rode many successful horses during his jockey days.

During the annual Cartier Awards last year, Smullen was presented with the Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit in London on Nov. 12. (Click here to view the video). He was also appointed as the honourary president of the International Federation of Jockeys Associations.

Smullen is survived by his wife Frances Crowley and their three children-Hannah, Paddy and Sarah. Funeral plans are pending.

Twitter Tributes:

“I never saw courage like this–Pat Smullen was a truly special man.” — Nick Luck

“Pat Smullen was one of Irish racing’s brightest stars, a nine time champion, but his achievements in the saddle pale in comparison to his qualities out of it. An inspiration to us all, his legacy is large. All our thoughts this evening are with Frances, Hannah, Paddy and Sarah.” — Brian Kavanagh

“Pat Smullen was that rare breed of a genuine great at what he did, yet utterly decent and unpretentious about that greatness. RIP Pat.” — Vincent Hogan

“Truly heartbreaking news about Pat Smullen. He was great jockey and even better man. My thoughts are with his family at this time.” — Jonjo O’Neill

“So very sad to learn of the passing of Pat Smullen. What a jockey and ambassador for a sport we all love, but above all what a gentleman and legend. My sincerest condolences to Frances, Hannah, Paddy, Sarah and all his family. May he rest in peace.” — Mouse O’Ryan

“Heartbroken–for his family, for his friends, for racing–the world is a worse place tonight without Pat Smullen. He was the true combination of both legend & gentleman–courageous, gracious, humble & kind. My deepest condolences to Frances, Hannah, Paddy & Sarah.” — Cathy Grassick

“Terrible news to hear this morning of the passing of Pat Smullen, A legend of the weigh room and a jockey that I was lucky enough to ask for advice many times. Will be sadly missed and a massive loss to the sport.” — Robbie Dolan

“It’s days like today that make you question everything. Thoughts with Pat’s family and friends and the racing community. Irish sport and society has lost a gem. Rest In Peace, Pat.” — Ronan O’Gara

“He will be so dearly missed by the global horse racing community. Rest In peace, Pat.” — Breeders’ Cup

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‘Everything Is About Being Consistent’: Panamanian Jockey Castillo Could Pick Up First Stakes Win This Weekend

Jockey Isaac Castillo looks at his list of accomplishments at Monmouth Park this summer and sees enough to know that this is far and away the best year of his young career.

He was able to ride in a graded stakes race for the first time. He had his first three-winner day (on Aug. 22). He has already exceeded his victory total at the meet from a year ago, doing so in 64 fewer mounts. And he has cracked the top 10 in a competitive jockey colony after finishing 14th a year ago.

But there's one thing missing: A stakes victory.

The 22-year-old Panamanian hopes to add that final piece to a breakout year this weekend, first aboard Absentee in Saturday's $100,000 Mr. Prospector Stakes, then again on Sunday when he re-unites with the Anthony Margotta, Jr.-trained Bronx Beauty in the $75,000 Regret Stakes.

“Everything is about being consistent,” Castillo said through an interpreter. “My first year riding in 2017 I didn't do much. The next year was only a little better. Finally, last year, people got to know me and I was getting more opportunities. I feel very good about the way things are going this year.

“It's all about hard work, being there every morning to show you want to work, a good attitude and staying positive.”

Castillo, a 2014 graduate of the Panama jockey school started by Laffit Pincay, Jr., heads into the weekend at Monmouth Park with 17 winners from 145 mounts (compared to 15 from 209 mounts a year ago). That's good for eighth place in the rider standings.

While a victory aboard Absentee on Saturday would represent a significant upset, Bronx Beauty looms as one of the horses to beat in Sunday's Regret Stakes, which has drawn a field of seven fillies and mares 3-and-up going six furlongs.

Castillo has ridden Bronx Beauty twice this meet, earning a win in a $50,000 optional claimer and then finishing second in the Incredible Revenge Stakes. A 5-year-old mare, Bronx Beauty has won nine of 21 career starts with lifetime earnings of $527,270.

“Every race I watch replays to see what I could have done better for the next time,” said Castillo. “I'm trying to improve with every ride. This has been a good year for me because my confidence is growing. I'm being more aggressive and I can see from the results that I can do it. I just have to keep working and keep getting better.”

Castillo said he was inspired to become a jockey by the success of Eddie Castro, the 2003 Eclipse Award-winning apprentice who grew up in the same town in Panama. He made the move to the United States to launch his riding career in December of 2016, getting two mounts that month.

It took until Sept. 5 for Castillo to land his first graded stakes mount, finishing fifth aboard Share the Ride in the Grade 3 Red Bank Stakes.

“That was a great experience,” he said. “It's part of the progress I am making and shows how things are coming along – not easily, but step by step.”

Castillo said he will head to Tampa for the first time following the nine-day Meadowlands-at-Monmouth meet in October in an effort to continue to build his business.

“The harder I work the better things will be. I can see that from the way things are going for me now,” he said.

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